I realize that the molten core of the earth is deep. By now we must certainly have the ability to reach it on a global scale. Why, then, aren’t we and other countries tapping into this endless heat source as a means of finding and using free, clean energy?

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Us Mere Humans wouldnt be able to drop the earth’s core temperature 1/100000000000 of a degree over the next hundred billion years if we were to use it. The amount of energy in the earth is endless in terms of human comprehension. The only keeping us from harnessing it is that current energy is much cheaper to produce. Also no one is saying that you have to go to the core or even to molten rock to produce steam to run a turbine. Only to about 500-700f, or about 2 to 3 miles down.

I have often thought the very same question. I think nearly everyone who has replied here missed the point… firstly, you don’t need to drill into the earths core only as far as it is hot enough to boil water, which is about 10-50 KM. Like in a nuclear reactor; heat is generated which is used to boil water, the resulting steam is then used to turn turbines to generate electricity…

It is an endless source of energy unless you are planning living several billion years. Drilling down to the Lava level would not have any impact on the earth, it’s not like putting a pin into a balloon, more like placing a hair into a foam ball.

So we have equipment that can drill the holes and stand up to temperatures over 100 degrees… the technology to turn geothermal energy into usable power exists and is already used in Iceland…

I can image such an undertaking would be expensive but if the end result is clean, free, endless energy….

I can imagine the oil companies aren’t too keen on the idea but they can’t stop everyone…

First, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to do so. Think of how deep the earth’s core is. The deepest hole does not even exceed the earth’s crust. There are several layers (all much thicker than the Earth’s crust) beside the earth’s crust to dig.

Second, it would be very expensive: to start (hiring, planning, designing, etc.), to build(there is several thousand miles of earth to go) and to maintain (rusty pipes at sector 6, replacement needed).

Third, we don’t have the technology to harness geothermal energy efficiently.

Fourth, there is competition. There are many more easy ways of getting energy. Think of how easy it is to cut trees and use them for our fuel needs; than digging miles and miles of earth, building a geothermal generator and deal with its inconveniences.

have you watched The Core recently? ha, i think it would be a good idea in theory but in practice its probably ridiculously expensive and dangerous, if you think about it Volcanoes are outputs of the molten core yet no-one has tried to harness the energy from them so to dig down and make a man-made volcano would probably have too many unforeseen consequences. I think the big oil war thats going on is part of the reason as all the major oil companies are fighting hard to make sure they dont go out of business by making it hard for renewable resources to be easily accessed. I think i remember reading about cars that can run on vegetable oil for about 2pence per litre and how there was a big action/coverup by the big oil companies so that this would not become a reality until all their oil was bought and used up for obvious economic reasons.

Because it is molten…ie way too hot for our modern day technology to handle..there is no way we could capture it (think throwing an ant into a fire…the ant won’t come out with bits of fire, it’ll die).

As well, it is not JUST heat, it is rock and as such, is not endless but makes up our planet (you wouldn’t eat your guts when hungry would you?)

Finally, burning rock isn’t clean…if you have ever seen a volcano exploding, there are thick clouds of smoke sent up which include sulfur and other elements that are not healthy being sent into the environment.

I agree we should be looking for clean, nearly endless sources of energy, but using our planet’s core is not the answer.